Draft-rigging for cars.



I. F. OCONNOR.

DRAFT RIGGNG FOR CARS. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 23, 191e.

Patented July 30, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 mw N XMWN d 1N VEN TOR. 70/LnF'/zfwf BY W S ugr' A ATTORNE I. F. GCONNOR.

DRAFT RIGGING FOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 23. |916.

1 ,27 8,908. 4 Patented July :50, 1918.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

N i Y I N Y' IN1/EN TOR. W I TVESS Y l Jp/wfmwr ,Mw ATTORNE UNITED sTATEs PATENT CEEICE.

Jann F. ocomvon, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon To WILLIAM H. MINEB., or CHAzY, NEW YORK.

DRAFT-mesme ron CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented July 1918.

Application led November 23, 1916. Serial No. 132,957.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certainnew'and useful Improvement in Draft-Riggings for Cars, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being 'had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n draft riggings for cars.

The object ofthe invention is to provlde simple and effective means on a follower of a draft rigging for limiting the movements of the draw bar and so arranged as to distribute the ultimate loads to the draft sills at widely separated points. l

In the drawing forming a part of th1s specification, Figure 1 is a part top plan, part horizontal section of a draft rigging embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a different embodiment of my invention. Fig. 3 1s a perspective view of the novel follower employed with the construction illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the front follower employed with the construction illustrated in Fig. 2. And Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 to illustrate the draw bar and yoke connection.

Referring to the construction illustrated in 1 and 3, 10-10 denote center sills to whichvare secured rear stops 11-11 and front plate stops 12-12, each of the latter having a rear vertical shoulder 13 and a front vertical shoulder 14. 15 designates a combined' friction -shell and spring casing of a well known form withwhich coperates friction' elements 16, the gear being connected to the draw bar 17 by a yoke strap 18.

Coperable with the gear is a front follower designated generally by the'reference A. Said follower A comprises a transversely extending portion 19 with rearwardly extended side walls 20 on each side thereof and forwardly extendedl side walls 21. The rearward extensions' 20 are each provided with outwardly extended shoulders 22 which normally engage said shoulders 13 and the forward extensions 21 are each provided with an outwardly extended shoulder 23-normally spaced from the stop shoulders 14 a distance corresponding to the permissible movement of the gear. For

strength, the follower A is provided with.

upper and lower flanges 24 and 25 arranged as most clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The normal position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 1.- Upon bult or inward movement of the draw bar, it is apparent that the follower A will be moved rearwardly thus actuating the friction elements, which movement continues until the shoulders 23 engage the shoulders 14, the front follower A thus acting as a limiting stop. Under draft, the follower A is held stationaryr by the engagement of the shoulders 22 with the shoulders 13, the gear being ac'- tuated in the usual manner against the follower.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the arrangement of sills, rear stops, front stops and gear is the same as for the construction illustrated in the. other figures. In this construction, however, a different type of front follower is employed, the same being designated generally by the reference B. Said follower B comprises a transy'verselv extending portion 119 and forward-ly extended side arms 121, each of the latter being provided with outwardly extending shoulders 123 adapted, under full buff, to engage the front shoulders 114 of the front stop members. In this construction, the follower B is prevented from forward movement by a stationary key v30 which extends through corresponding slots in' the sills and an elongated slot 31 in the draw.

bar 117. The side extensions 121 of the foli -lower are also slotted as indicated at 32 to accommodate the key 30, as appears from Fig. 2. The slots 31 are elongated so as to permit either forward or rearward movement of the draw bar with respect to the key 30 and in order to effect the connection of the yoke 118 with the draw bar, the

rear end of the latterv is left open as indiy cated at 33 so that short rivets 34 may be employed to connect the ends of the yoke strap.

In operation, the follower B remains stationary under draft, being held by thekey 30. In buff, the draw bar engages the follower B and forces the same rearwardlythus actuating the gear `until the shoulders 123 engage the shoulders 114, the follower thus acting as a limiting stop under buff. V-

It will be noted that in each of the constructions above described, the front follower is so designed as to provide a pocket for the reception of the butt 0f the draw bar, or stated in another manner, the front follower is provided with forward extensions overlapping the sides of the draw bar butt. With this arrangement the loads transmitted to the sills through the follower under buff ,are applied well forward of the rear stops of the rigging, thus distributing the shocks t0 the sills at widely separated l points.

I claim:

Vl. In a draft rigging, the combination with draft sills having main front stops thereon, of cushioning means, a front follower, and integral means on said follower coperable with said stops to limit the rearward movement of the follower.

2. In a draft rigging, the combination with draft sills having front stop members secured thereto, of eushionin means, a draw bar, a yoke, and a front fol ower, said follower having forwardly extended side arms, the latter having shoulders adapted to cooperate with said stop members to limit the inward'movement of the follower.

3. As an article of manufacture, a follower for draft riggings having a transversely extending portion and forwardly extended side arms, the latter forming a pocket to receive the butt of a draw bar, said side arms being provided with laterally extending shoulders adapted to coperate with fixed members to limit the inward movement of the follower.

In witness that I claim the 'foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th `day of Nov., 1916.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

